Dancing through life: More adults, seniors in S’pore picking up ballet

SINGAPORE – When Ms Kat Lam, 62, took her granddaughter to her first ballet class in 2019, the worried four-year-old refused to let go of her hands.

Hoping to soothe the girl, the teacher invited Ms Lam to join the children’s class.

While she was hesitant then, these days, Ms Lam, a semi-retiree, takes bi-weekly classes at The Ballet Academy in Upper Thomson Road.  

The grandmother of six told The Straits Times: “Since I was young, I have always admired ballet for its costumes and graceful movements. As my parents could not afford to send me to classes, I am fulfilling my childhood dream now.”

She is one of many picking up ballet as adults. 

Ballet schools told ST there has been an uptick in adult enrolment, with students of both genders ranging from their early 20s to 60s. About half of them had no ballet experience.

Singapore Ballet has seen a 30 to 40 per cent increase in students in its adult ballet classes between 2022 and 2024. Classes start at $20 for 90 minutes and cover levels from beginner to advanced.

At City Ballet Academy Vaganova in Tanglin Mall, enrolments for its adult classes surged from fewer than 10 students when it opened in 2022 to over 100 by October 2024. 

The school, which teaches the Russian ballet method Vaganova, has expanded from two to six weekly classes to cope with the demand. Another two weekly classes will be added by mid-November.

Its school director and principal Ilya Shcherbakov attributes the growth to an increased awareness of fitness among adults, many of whom are looking to improve their posture. 

The Covid-19 lockdown also enabled many to explore ballet as a hobby or rekindle their childhood passion for dance through online videos, he said. 

Adult ballet classes, which usually do not involve exams, offer an appealing and accessible option for busy adults to dance, said Ms Melissa Quek, head of the school of dance and theatre at Lasalle College of the Arts, University of the Arts Singapore.

Besides classes, adult students can also participate in dance showcases and competitions.

Singapore Ballet’s adult students are organising a showcase at its Bugis studio on Nov 30. The event, which is on an invitation-only basis, is for the 30 dance enthusiasts to present their progress to their families.

Ballet studios have also introduced Silver Swans classes, which are tailored for novice and experienced dancers aged 55 and above.

Designed by the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) in Britain, the classes combine low-impact exercises with movements that enhance mobility, coordination and mental agility. 

Taught at a slower pace than regular adult ballet classes, Silver Swans can even count Britain’s Queen Camilla, 77, as a student. She was inspired after visiting RAD in London in 2018.

Ms Lam said ballet has strengthened the muscles in her core, legs and arms, as well as improved her flexibility, balance and memory.

These benefits have translated into her daily life.

She said: “I used to lose my balance when riding the train, but I can balance much better now. Carrying my grandchildren used to be more difficult too. I have more muscles in my arms now and find it easy carrying my nine-month-old grandson. 

“My domestic helper even asked me, ‘Ah Ma, are you not tired of carrying him?’”

Giving ballet a whirl

Mr Marcus Yeung may be the chief executive of an investment banking firm, but his most prized possession is a backstage lanyard pass for the Esplanade Theatre featuring his name, picture and the word “Dancer”.

His dance journey began in 2018, when he attended a Ballet Under The Stars performance staged by Singapore Ballet, then known as Singapore Dance Theatre, at Fort Canning with his wife.

Midway, she caught his restlessness.

“She turned to me and said, ‘You think you can do that, don’t you?’ I turned to her and nodded,” recalled Mr Yeung, who is in his 50s.

His wife registered him for adult ballet classes the next day without his knowledge.

“I was initially afraid as I’m male and not young,” he said. “But I love that grounding feeling of going into the studio to immerse myself in the music. It’s so different from the fast-paced work I do.”

A full-circle moment occurred when he played Romeo’s father Lord Montague in Singapore Ballet’s 2020 production of Romeo And Juliet.

“The opportunity was the best experience of my life. I loved doing rehearsals, the costumes, working with the live orchestra and being among professional dancers. After 30 years in finance, I was just starting to discover my potential as a dancer,” he said.

Having played rugby and squash in his youth, Mr Yeung had to “relearn his body” for ballet, focusing on standing tall, rolling his shoulders back and looking regal rather than fierce.

Mr Yeung, who is one of three men in a class of 30 adults, said he is unafraid of the stigma surrounding male ballet dancers.

He added his teachers and classmates are welcoming and more focused on improving themselves, and his wife encourages his passion.

His colleagues were pleasantly surprised to learn of his passion and he has been buying tickets for them to catch ballet performances together.

His classmate Michael Wong, 57, said there are occasional perks to being a male dancer.

“When there’s partner work, all the female adult ballet dancers immediately come looking for us,” said the semi-retiree, who dances for six hours weekly.

Dance like no one is watching 

Ms Evelyn Tan fell in love with ballet at age four and pursued it until junior college. 

But when the mother of four kids aged six to 14 took it up again in 2023, she struggled with looking at herself in the mirror.

The 41-year-old said: “Seeing myself in a figure-hugging leotard was a mental struggle. My body was never the same after I had kids. I would rather wear oversized clothes.”

But her self-consciousness began to fade after a few lessons, when she realised her classmates were respectful and did not judge others.

“When I mustered the courage to wear a leotard, something was different. It was like I could shed my corporate and domestic images for a moment. I felt pretty,” said the senior director at a multinational corporation.

Ballet also brought her closer to her nine-year-old daughter Lydia, who takes classes at the same school. They often share what they learnt during car rides.

Doing ballet again after 23 years has taught Ms Tan to embrace her body.

She said: “If I could turn back the clock to when I rejoined ballet, I would tell myself not to worry about meeting expectations of what a ballet dancer should look like. 

“Dance for yourself.”

Putting her best foot forward 

Ms Kong Lin Peng, 55, began dancing at age 44, and has taken her interest to another level – Grade 8 in the RAD syllabus.

Having excelled in her Grade 7 ballet exams in 2023, she has set her sights on completing the final level in the syllabus.

She is also part of a special adult ballet team formed by dance school Firstpointe to compete in competitions. The six-woman group will participate in the International Arts Festival at Gateway Theatre on Nov 19. 

Ms Kong, who works in her family’s importing business, started ballet in 2012 to fulfil her dream of performing on stage. Her wish came true six years later, when she participated in a group performance.

“That moment dancing on stage was one of the most memorable moments of my life. Showcasing my learning achievements and talents also gave me a sense of accomplishment,” said Ms Kong, who has a 28-year-old son.

But her ballet journey has not been a bed of roses. 

Before studios started offering adult ballet classes, Ms Kong joined a class for nine-year-olds to master the basics. 

Even now, in her 50s, grasping the techniques has been challenging. Training five to six hours a week has also taken a toll on her knees.

But she is determined to fulfil her greatest wish – dancing solo in a competition.

She said: “When I see my progress and receive recognition and praise from my teacher, it is the greatest enjoyment.

“Age is just a number. If you love something, do it with courage.”